SHELBY – Sears plans to close its Cleveland Mall store in April, marking the end of the brand’s presence in Cleveland County after 60-plus years.

Sears Holdings Corp. on Monday confirmed plans for the Sears store in the East Dixon Boulevard mall to close in mid-April.

The closure will impact 56 employees, said Howard Riefs, director of corporate communications for Sears Holdings.

“Those associates that are eligible will receive severance and have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Sears or Kmart stores,” Riefs wrote in an email to The Star. “Most of the associates are part time/hourly.”

Sears Holdings did not answer a question Monday about the future status of the Kmart store on Dixon Boulevard across from the Walmart shopping center. Officials also did not confirm plans for closures of other Sears stores in the region.

Sears Holdings Corp. has closed dozens of Sears and Kmart stores in recent years in response to declining sales profits.

The Shelby store at Cleveland Mall opened in 1994.

“This store is being closed because the lease was not renewed,” Riefs said. “Store closures are part of a series of actions we’re taking to reduce ongoing expenses, adjust our asset base and accelerate the transformation of our business model. These actions will better enable us to focus our investments on serving our customers and members through integrated retail – at the store, online and in the home.”

Before opening its store at Cleveland Mall, Sears operated on West Warren Street in uptown beginning in 1951, according to a North Carolina stores history on the company’s website.

An office representative at the Shelby store referred all questions to the Sears corporate office Monday.

Cleveland Mall representatives did not return a call from The Star seeking comment on future plans for the Sears location.

Sears is the first major closure at the mall since February 2013, when Amy’s Hallmark closed its doors. The mall added an anchor store in October 2013 when Marshalls opened in a renovated storefront facing Dixon Boulevard.

Sears at Cleveland Mall will soon close.

Sears Holdings Corp. confirmed Monday morning to The Star that the Sears store at the mall will close in mid-April.

The closure will impact 56 employees, according to Howard Riefs, director of corporate communications for Sears Holdings.